A 35-year-old woman, Kimberly Lloyd, is facing fraud charges after she allegedly purchased defibrillators worth around £10,000 by posing as the director of a charity. Lloyd claimed that her intention was not to deceive but to “catch out” the defibrillator company, describing her actions as “stupidity” rather than dishonesty. The trial at Newport Crown Court revealed that she used the name of Sherilyn Hamilton-Shaw, a director of Cariad Medical Ltd, to place orders for defibrillators. The purchases were made through a false email containing Mrs. Hamilton-Shaw’s name, with five defibrillators delivered to Lloyd’s grandparents’ home in Cardiff.
Prosecutor Megan Jones stated that an initial order was placed for £26,735 worth of defibrillators, but only £4,452 worth of equipment was delivered due to stock availability. A subsequent order for £6,252 worth of defibrillators and accessories was not fulfilled as the company was alerted by Mrs. Hamilton-Shaw’s husband after receiving an invoice for the first order. Lloyd testified in court that she volunteered with her mother’s charity, Welsh Hearts, before working for London Hearts, a separate charity partly founded by her father. London Hearts worked to provide defibrillators to various organizations across the UK, including the Welsh Rugby Union, the (English) Rugby Football Union, the police, and fire services.
In 2020/21, London Hearts entered into a business agreement with Zol Medical, resulting in an exclusivity deal. Lloyd claimed that issues arose with Zol Medical, leading to unfulfilled orders and ignored emails. Feeling “ignored and rejected,” she sought to “catch them out” by placing an order using the alias of Cariad Medical in Mrs. Hamilton-Shaw’s name. Lloyd stated that she never expected to receive the defibrillators as payment had not been made upfront, as was the standard practice. She clarified that she eventually paid the balance following her arrest.
During cross-examination, Lloyd asserted that she did not act dishonestly and had no intention of defrauding the company. She explained that two or three defibrillators were donated to charities and communities in Powys. The trial continues, with Lloyd maintaining that her actions were driven by frustration and a desire to expose the company’s conduct. The case sheds light on the complexities of charity dealings and the importance of transparency and integrity in such transactions.